A Kazakh Design Student

Astana, Kazakhstan, now has the world’s biggest tent, a city-within-a-city called Khan Shatyr. To celebrate the completion of this monumental edifice and the new global prominence of Kazakhstan’s frigid, futuristic capital, Stylites’ Liang Cheng interviewed Siko, a fashion student from Astana. In Beijing for six years, he is currently finishing his first year at Raffles Design Institute, majoring in fashion design.

Siko 来自哈萨克斯坦, 在北京已经6年，能讲一口流利的普通话。Siko在莱佛士设计学院学时装设计, 刚上完第一年的课程。

LC: What attracts you most about Beijing? And why did you choose to come here?

S: Freedom, many things to do and fun places like Nanluoguxiang and 798.

I grew up on Bruce Lee’s movies, and I always thought the language they spoke was really interesting. But I didn’t realize there were different dialects – the language in the movies was Cantonese. After I finished studying International Relations for five years, a classmate of mine said to me “Hey, I’m going to Beijing to study Mandarin” and I thought “What a great idea!” I finally realized I was not studying Cantonese when I took a trip to Hong Kong. But its OK, I love Beijing anyway.

LC: Why did you choose Raffles? Likes and dislikes?

I always wanted to study fashion design, but never got a chance. I heard about Raffles from a friend and decided to try it out. What I like about it is the international teachers – you can choose to study how ever long you want and the subjects are all very interesting. You don’t have to finish the three year degree program. What I don’t like is that I don’t get enough homework; if I finish the work in class then there is nothing left to do. But I heard classes get a lot harder next year.

LC: What is your fashion philosophy?

S: I think fashion should come from your own ideas, and doesn’t have to follow trends. Everyone is different, so we should all have our own opinion on “what to wear”. And it’s so boring if you just follow trends all the time. There will always be those who like your style and designs, and those who don’t.

LC: What will you do after you finish at Raffles?

S: I want to work on fashion related jobs, then start my own brand in Beijing. I have all my friends here, and I’m so used to living in Beijing, it would be hard for me to leave this city.